What are the case outcomes for Weapons Offense in Suffolk?

Of 651 cases filed in Suffolk in 2025 (public records), 376 reached a dismissal, plea, verdict, or acquittal. Of those, 73.8% are dismissed, 30.7% result in conviction, and 3.7% end in acquittal. The median case takes 5.1 months. Individual outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case.

What is the dismissal rate for Weapons Offense in Suffolk?

The dismissal rate is 73.8% of the 376 cases that reached an outcome, out of 651 filed in 2025 (public court records). This includes judicial dismissals and nolle prosequi (cases dropped by the prosecutor).

How long does a Weapons Offense case take in Suffolk?

The median case takes 5.1 months. The fastest 25% resolve in 3.0 months, while the slowest 25% take 8.8 months or longer. Duration depends on factors specific to each case.

What is the conviction rate for Weapons Offense in Suffolk?

The conviction rate for Weapons Offense in Suffolk is 30.7% of the 376 cases that reached an outcome, out of 651 filed in 2025 (public court records). This includes guilty pleas and findings of guilt at trial.

What does the data show about charge reductions for Weapons Offense in Suffolk?

3.1% of Weapons Offense cases in Suffolk are amended to a lesser charge based on 2025 court records. The most common reduction is to Nonviol Felon Poss Gun W/I 10Y.

What's the difference between General District Court and Circuit Court for Weapons Offense in Suffolk?

Most Weapons Offense cases in Suffolk are heard in General District Court (398 cases in 2025), where 73.8% are dismissed and the median case takes 4.6 months. 253 cases were heard in Circuit Court — typically jury trials, felonies, or appeals from District Court — where 52.9% are dismissed.

How does Suffolk compare to other courts for Weapons Offense?

Suffolk has a 73.8% dismissal rate for Weapons Offense. Visit the Weapons Offense overview page to compare dismissal rates, conviction rates, and case timelines across all Virginia jurisdictions.

What does the sentencing data show for Weapons Offense in Suffolk?

For those convicted of Weapons Offense in Suffolk, the average sentence recorded is 2.2 years (including suspended time). Actual sentences depend on the specifics of each case. Consult a licensed attorney for guidance on your situation.

Weapons Offense in Suffolk, VA

If you've been charged with weapons offense in Suffolk — this page shows what typically happens. Most cases (398 of 651) were heard in General District Court, where 73.8% were dismissed or dropped and the median case took 4.6 months. 253 cases moved to Circuit Court — typically jury trials, felonies, or appeals from District Court.

Key takeaways

73.8% of Weapons Offense cases in Suffolk were dismissed or dropped in 2025, across 651 public court records (Virginia average: 64.3%).
30.7% resulted in conviction; 3.7% ended in acquittal.
3.1% were amended to a lesser charge, most often Nonviol Felon Poss Gun W/I 10Y.
The median case resolved in 5.1 months; the slowest quarter took 8.8 months or more.

73.8%

Dismissal Rate

▲ vs 64.3% statewide

30.7%

Conviction Rate

▼ vs 33.1% statewide

5.1 months

Median Duration

I Outcomes

Case Outcomes — General District Court

Of 398 General District Court cases in Suffolk filed in 2025, 172 ended in a dismissal, plea, verdict, or acquittal — the basis for the rates below. This is where most Weapons Offense cases start.

Exhibit · Case-outcome distribution

37.2%

36.6%

21.5%

Dismissed by judge 37.2% (n=64) Dropped by prosecutor (nolle prosequi) 36.6% (n=63) Convicted 21.5% (n=37) Acquitted 4.7%

Largest outcomeDismissed by judge — 37.2% of 172 resolved cases.

Source: 398 General District Court records, Suffolk, 2025. See the 2025 Virginia Criminal Court Outcomes report for statewide context. — VirginiaCourtFile.com

Exhibit · How Suffolk compares

Dismissal rates for Weapons Offense in this and peer jurisdictions, 2025. Peers are the highest-volume neighboring jurisdictions in the same region.

SuffolkThis page 73.8% 651 cases

Newport News 78.1% 1,664 cases Norfolk 64.4% 1,542 cases Virginia Beach 40.5% 1,509 cases Chesapeake 71.1% 706 cases

Statewide average 64.3% all Virginia

Click any peer for its full record. Bar lengths are scaled to the highest rate shown.

Filed in Suffolk General District Court? See the full General District Court record — charge mix, judges, and officer activity.

If your case goes to Circuit Court · 253 Weapons Offense cases in 2025

A small share of Weapons Offense cases in Suffolk are heard in Circuit Court — typically jury trials, felonies, or appeals from General District Court. Outcomes look different at this level.

51.5%

43.1%

Dismissed 1.5% (n=3) Nolle prosequi 51.5% (n=105) Guilty Plea 43.1% Found Guilty 2.0% Acquitted 2.0%

See the full Suffolk Circuit Court record — all charges, judges, and case outcomes at this level.

January to June 2026 · read at June 30 · General District Court

212 weapons offense cases in Suffolk General District Court were filed January to June 2026, and 29 had resolved by June 30.

Of the 29 resolved, 72.4% were dismissed or dropped and 17.2% ended in a conviction. 183 were still open at June 30. The same read of January to June 2025 is beside it, so the two half-years are compared at the same age.

Measure	Jan–Jun 2026	Jan–Jun 2025, same read
Filed	212	224
Resolved by June 30	29	27
Still open at June 30	183	197
Dismissed or dropped, of resolved	72.4%	63.0%
Convicted, of resolved	17.2%	18.5%
Convicted on a reduced charge, of resolved	0.0%	0.0%

Small sample: fewer than 30 resolved cases, so the 2026 rates move a lot with each case. A case counts as resolved only if its final hearing was held on or before June 30 of its filing year; rates divide by those cases. General District Court only — 2026 Circuit Court figures are not yet published (feed paused 2026-07-09). Filed counts carry a recording caveat and no year-over-year change is claimed. Source read 2026-09-14; the 2025 benchmark elsewhere on this page is the full calendar year. Method.

VCF Sentencing Outcome Index

Outcomes for 42 convicted cases in Suffolk General District Court (2025-2026).

Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted

45.2%

Received Active Jail

Median suppressed (N<30)

▲ vs 28.2% statewide

4.8%

Received Probation

Median suppressed (N<30)

▼ vs 43.6% statewide

These figures describe outcomes for cases that ended in conviction in Suffolk General District Court. They do not predict any individual case outcome. See methodology for definitions and suppression rules.

Charge Reductions

When the original charge is amended to a lesser offense, usually through negotiation between the attorney and prosecutor.

Exhibit · Charge-reduction patterns

3.1% of Weapons Offense cases
in Suffolk are reduced

20 cases had their charge amended to a lesser offense.

Most common reductions

Weapons Offense Nonviol Felon Poss Gun W/I 10Y

9 cases · 45.0% of reductions

Weapons Offense Poss Gun On Person W/ Schedule I/Ii

3 cases · 15.0% of reductions

Weapons Offense Carry Conceal Firearm

1 cases · 5.0% of reductions

Case Duration

Time from filing to final disposition — half of cases resolve faster than the median.

Exhibit · Case duration

Fastest 25% 3.0 months

Median 5.1 months

Slowest 25% 8.8 months

II Getting Help

Getting Help With a Weapons Offense Charge

Representation options in Suffolk.

If you cannot afford an attorney for a weapons offense charge, you may qualify for court-appointed counsel or a public defender. How Virginia's indigent-defense system works explains who qualifies and how representation is assigned in Suffolk. Defense attorneys who have appeared on weapons offense cases in Suffolk are listed below.

Defense Attorneys with Weapons Offense Cases in Suffolk

Attorneys whose primary jurisdiction is Suffolk and who appeared as defense counsel of record on Weapons Offense cases in 2025. Listed by case count.

James O Broccoletti 64 of 572 total Stephen Plott 51 of 503 total Warren Kozak 40 of 401 total Kevin Frank 33 of 295 total Jasmine Fields 25 of 146 total Holly Kozak 22 of 185 total Ashby Pope 18 of 298 total Sean Domer 16 of 270 total Alex Bell 15 of 71 total Tamikia C Vasquez 14 of 194 total

Counts are each attorney's full 2025 caseload statewide. Click any name for their jurisdiction + outcome breakdown.

All Virginia defense attorneys

Commonwealth's Attorney Office — Suffolk

3,643 circuit court filings prosecuted by the Suffolk Commonwealth's Attorney in 2025. Office-level data — direct-indictment rate, disposition mix, trial activity. View office records →

III Background

Arresting Officers — Dismissal Rates

Officers whose Weapons Offense arrests in Suffolk are dismissed most frequently. Minimum 10 cases.

A B Cain 100.0% 13 cases J Catanese 100.0% 12 cases M Moraczewski 100.0% 11 cases N Dearsley 100.0% 13 cases S Koziana 100.0% 10 cases

Ranking shows officers in this jurisdiction with the highest Weapons Offense dismissal rates (minimum 10 cases). Click any name for their full record.

All arresting officers in Suffolk

Common Questions

Statistics from public court records for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. Past outcomes do not predict future results. Consult a licensed attorney for guidance on your case.

What's the difference between General District Court and Circuit Court?

In Virginia, most Weapons Offense cases start in General District Court — that's where the 398 cases shown above were heard. Cases can move to Circuit Court for jury trials, felony indictments, or appeals from District Court. 253 Weapons Offense cases were heard in Suffolk Circuit Court in 2025, where 52.9% were dismissed and 45.1% resulted in conviction.

Can a Weapons Offense charge be reduced to something lesser?

3.1% of Weapons Offense cases in Suffolk were amended to a lesser charge in 2025. The most common reduction was to Nonviol Felon Poss Gun W/I 10Y (9 cases), followed by Poss Gun On Person W/ Schedule I/Ii (3 cases). Whether a reduction is available depends on the specifics of the case and is typically negotiated between the defense attorney and the prosecutor.

How does Suffolk compare to other Virginia courts?

Suffolk has a 73.8% dismissal rate for Weapons Offense cases. Outcomes vary significantly across Virginia courts. View the Weapons Offense overview to compare dismissal rates, conviction rates, and case timelines across every jurisdiction.

Where does this data come from and how often is it updated?

All figures on this page come from Virginia's public Case Information System (CIS) and District Court system, calendar year 2025 onward. See methodology for definitions, denominators, and known coverage gaps.

Read this before you quote a number

What this record cannot show

This page is built from what court clerks recorded for Weapons Offense cases in Suffolk. Some of what you may want to know is not in that record.

The judge. Virginia’s court records do not carry the judge’s name, so nothing on this page describes any judge.
The prosecutor. The record names the office — the Suffolk Commonwealth’s Attorney — not the individual prosecutor who handled a case.
Why a case ended the way it did. A dismissal can mean a witness did not appear, a motion was won, a plea was reached on another charge, or evidence never arrived. The record shows the outcome, not the reason.
Cases still open. Rates here count only the 376 cases that reached a dismissal, plea, verdict, or acquittal. The other 275 cases filed in 2025 were still pending or otherwise unresolved when the record was read, and they are in none of the rates.
Cases filed before 2025. This page covers cases filed in 2025. A case filed in 2024 and decided in 2025 is not here.
Whether the person had a lawyer. The court’s counsel field is not reliable enough to publish, so this page does not say who was represented, or whether counsel was hired or appointed.
Guilty plea or trial in General District Court. District court records do not say whether a conviction came by plea or after a trial. Only Circuit Court records do, so no plea or trial rate appears here.
What the 2026 half-year can show. The January to June 2026 figures are General District Court only, read at June 30, and count a case as resolved only if its final hearing was held by that date. 183 of the 212 cases filed were still open at the read. Circuit Court 2026 is not yet published; no year-over-year change is claimed.
Time actually served. Sentences here are what the court imposed. Suspended time is included unless a figure says <em>active</em>. Time served, credit for time already spent in jail, and early release are not in the record.

Every figure on this page comes from Virginia’s public court records as read on August 24, 2026. Coverage notes and definitions are in the methodology. If something here is wrong, tell us and we will check the record.

Cite this page

VirginiaCourtFile.com (2026). Weapons Offense Outcomes — Suffolk, Virginia. Based on 651 public court records, 2025; last updated August 24, 2026. https://www.virginiacourtfile.com/charges/weapons-offense/suffolk

Other Charges in Suffolk

Reckless Driving

796 cases · 37.9% dismissed

Probation Violation

684 cases · 100.0% dismissed

Drug Distribution

549 cases · 62.1% dismissed

Failure to Appear

494 cases · 54.9% dismissed